ISLAMIC MYSTICAL LITERATURE 725
if by the will of the high king and through
the light of one who knows and the resolution
of the disciple a great universal spirit
descends from the white dome and enters in
the student's holy spirit. Then spirit of
the student's heart will climb a few steps higher
from the house of wind and hover in
the commanding arteries of his chest.
"Body and matter will be bright and light
because of light of godliness and holy
revelation. God says, 'Is there anyone
whose chest god has expanded for Islam
so he's enlightened by the lord?'^169 But spirit
of the heart still can't reach the brain. Great spirit
descends from under the high king's canopy,
in the remotest realm, at the command
and by the will of the high king and with
the purpose of good imams, landing perfectly
on the great universal spirit. Then
the spirit of the heart can move from chest
to lips, tongue, and mouth, and end up on
the holy throne. The one who knows arises
and testifies to spirit as to himself.
"The student will be perfect, and ten spirits
are spoken for. God says, 'These are the perfect ten.'^170
The ten stanzas of the Qur'an also
convey the ten Islamic^171 ranks, ten days
of feast,^172 the counting going up to ten
and when it gets to ten begins again,
and every number ten around the world
stands for it too. That's why we call this book
the ten speeches, and this description resides
uniquely in this book and in no other."
- Qur'an sura 39.
- Qur'an sura 2.
- Or "Salmanic" (the text is unclear).
- Ten feast days to celebrate the martyrdom of Husayn.
